According to joint-secretary and spokesperson at the ministry Shankar Prasad Koirala, the ministry issued the directive based on the report of the probe committee formed to investigate the possible involvement of police officers in the currency smuggling. [break]He said, “The investigation will continue and the police will take departmental action against SSP Shrestha if he is found guilty.”
The Police Headquarters on Tuesday had sent a letter to the home ministry recommending action against Shrestha. As per the regulations, action against a police officer above the rank of inspector can only be taken by the home ministry on the recommendation of the police headquarters.
A three-member high level probe committee headed by Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Bhisma Prasai submitted its report to IGP Kuber Singh Rana. SSP Shrestha had been transferred to the police reserve pool at the headquarters within a few days of the incident. Shrestha has now been suspended from his job effective from Wednesday in order to prevent him from influencing further investigation on the case.
If found guilty, Shrestha might be slapped a jail term by the department or sent to the Commission for the investigation of abuse of authority (CIAA) or revenue department for further action.
Meanwhile, the police regulations don´t allow suspension of any officer for more than six months.
The probe committee reports that SSP Shrestha was directly involved with the Indian national Binod Kumar Soni, who was arrested onboard a Fly Dubai plane at TIA, in the attempt to sneak out nine different foreign currencies totaling Rs 12.4 million.
SSP Shrestha´s driver, police constable Sovit Karki, is on the run after a CCTV footage showed him assisting Soni in smuggling the foreign currencies.
Related story
Shrestha appointed as CDO of Lalitpur, SSP Khanal takes over ch...
-1771291468.webp)
